Coating apparatus



y May 9, 1944. E@ H. HILLMAN 2,348,384

1 'COATING APPARATUS Filed July 31, 1942 2 sheets-sheet 2 f.' A( Haz/144m, Ofca,

Patented May 9, 1944 UNITI-:D STATES PATENT yoFI-lorj ooa'rnvo APPARATUS Walter F. MacQuccn, Niles, Olii o, administrators. assignors to-National Steel Corporation, Pittsburgh,l Pa., a corporation ot Delaware Application July 31, 1942, Serial No. 453,080

` 4 6 Claims. (Cl. ill-12.5) This invention relates generallyto the application of aprotective coating to sheet material and, specically, to an apparatus for galvanizing ferrous sheets.

In the galvanizing of sheet metal, the usual lprocess is to first clean the sheet. then pass it face of the sheets to be coated and either give a` very rough coating or prevent complete adherence of the coat tothe base. The flux also serves tc clean the metal at the instant it strikes the molten bath and to insure a dry surface .before the metal passes into the molten zinc. This flux is continuously used up during the galvanizing process and must be continuously replaced. In the past, the operator occasionally threw a` shovel scribed only generally. It comprisesa galvaniz- 'ing pot I0 mounted on a suitable foundation and adapted to contain a bath of molten zinc or other liquid coating material II. Entrance rolls I2 'one edge of the pot I0 and receive metal sheets full of sal ammoniac crystals into the pot to moniac, and the present invention `is to eliminate such waste by automatically feeding a measured quantity of sal ammoniac crystals to the galvanizing pot. l 'v l Thus, the primary object of the present invention is to provide in a galvanizing apparatus means for automatically supplying a definite amount of fluxing salts, such as sal ammoniac, at denite intervals or continuously.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention are to provide a flux feeding apparatus that,A will be superior in point of simplicity, inexpensivenes's of construction, positiveness of operation and general einciency.

Further advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the `following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of the galvanizing apparatus including the novel flux feeder;

Figure 2 is a feeder;` A

Figure 3 is a sectional view of a major portion of the iiux feeding apparatus. j

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is' provided a metal coating Vapparatus which represents for the most part, a conventional construction and will, therefore, be deplan view of a portion of the K charge end of pot I 0.

advancing betweenguides I4 and I5 and direct them between guides I6, through a flux box I I and thence between guides I3. Bottom feed rolls I9 deliver the sheets to guides 20 which guide them to exit rolls 2l disposedadjacent the disl The feed-in rolls 22 and 23 are supported on a post 24 spaced a slight distance from the galvanizing pot IIJ. A sprocket gear 25 is connected to the shaft carrying the roller I2 and a cooperating sprocket gear 26 is connected to the shaft carrying the roller 22. A sprocket chain 23a connects the 'two sprocket gears 25 and 26. Springs 21. and 28 are provided to press rollers I3 and 23 against rollers I2 and 22 respectively. A suitable source of power, not shown, through the sprocket and chain drive-drives the feed-in rolls to feed-the sheets of metal to the galvaniz- Hing pot.

VThe novel portion of the disclosed mechanism is the automatic flux feeding apparatus. This apparatus comprises a hopper 2g mounted on a pair of supporting bars 30 which in turn are'connected to frame 3l supported on post 24. A frame member 32 supports the forward ends of bars 30 in such manner that hopper 29 is inclined towards thegalvanizing pot.

Mounted within the rear end of hopper 29 is a shaft 33 rotatably connected to the side walls of the hopper. A sprocket or guide wheel 34 is mounted on shaft 33 and drives a conveyer chain 35 which in turn is connected to sprocket or i guide Wheel 36 mounted on rotating shaft 31 suitably supported on frame member 32. A bucket 38 of carefully predetermined capacity is mounted on conveyer chain 35. Although a sin- `gle bucket has been shown, any number of buckets may be used if desired. consistent VWith their size and the speed of the chain.

A sprocket gear 39 is mounted on shaft 31 and is driven by sprocket chain 40 connected to sprocket gear 4I mounted onthe shaft carrying a different source of power. l

It will be observed that operation of the chain drive forthe iiux feeder will cause the bucket to pass through the'fiux crystals I2, lling the bucket, and as the bucket turns about sprocket ,wheel 38,.the.crystals are dumped into' the galvanizing pot. vThus a constant. measured supply ofsal ammoniac crystals are supplied to the galvanizing pot. The'amount of crystals supplied can be varied by 'varying the size 'of the bucke or the' speed of the conveying SYStem.

While there has been shown`- and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the same is not limited thereto, but may be otherwise variously emand deposit the same in the pot.

2. A device of the character described com prising a galvanizing pot, a receptacle adjacent the pot for holding a flux in crystalline or granular form, a conveyor passing into and out of thev receptacle, receptacle means on the conveyor arranged to pickup ilux in the receptacle and deposit the same in thek pot, sheet feeding rolls associated with the pot. and means for driving the feeder rolls and conveyor from a single source of power.

3. A device of the character described comthe pot for holding a ilux in G'S'Stalline or granulax-form, conveyor means operating between a c point in the receptacle and a point above the not.A receptacle means on the conveyor, and

means associated with the' conveyor for causing 40 man, Deceased.

the receptacle meansfto pick up flux in the receptacle and deposit the same in the pot.

4. A device of the character described comprising a galvanizing pot, a-receptacle adjacent the pot for holding a flux in crystalline or granular form, conveyor means operating between a f 'point' in the receptacle and a point above the pot, receptacle means on the conveyor, means associated with the conveyor for causing the receptacle means to pick up-ux in the receptacle and deposit the same in the pot, sheet feeding rolls associated with the pot, and means for driving the feeder rolls and conveyor from a single source of power.

5. A device of the character ,described comprising a galvanizing pot, a receptacleA adjacent the pot for holding a flux in crystalline or granular form, a guide wheel in the receptacle, a guide eratively engaging the vguide wheels, ire'ceptacle means on the conveyor, means associated with the conveyor for causing the receptacle means to pick up flux in the receptacle and deposit the same in the pot, sheet feeding rolls associated prising a galvanizing pot, a receptacle adjacent 3 5 with the pot, and meansfor driving the feeder rolls and conveyor from a single source of power.

GRACE EAFEILOWS.

WALTER. 1E'. MlAcQUEEN,

v Administrators of the Estate of Edward H. Hm- 

